12 injured in Sunday Market grenade attack

Srinagar, Nov 3: At least 12 civilians were injured in a grenade blast at the ‘Sunday Market’ near the Tourism Reception Centre (TRC) in Srinagar on Sunday.

As per the eyewitnesses, the grenade was lobbed outside the TRC playground, which left at least 12 civilians injured.

The blast took place at a time when the area was witnessing a huge rush of shoppers for the weekly flea market.

The area was abuzz with hustle and bustle with vendors in the bustling market yelling while shoppers were busy shopping.

However, panic gripped the market following the explosion, halting the entire activity for some time there.

The shoppers as well as vendors were seen running for life.

“Some civilians were lying on the road shouting for help. It was a chaotic situation at the spot," an eyewitness said.

Soon after the blast, the additional security reinforcement rushed to the spot to take control of the situation and the area was cordoned off.

The injured civilians were shifted to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for treatment.

An official said that the attackers missed the target.

“The attackers missed the target as the grenade lobbed into the busy market. It seems the attack was aimed at security forces deployed at the spot,” an official said.

Srinagar Police said that the terrorists lobbed a hand grenade at a security force deployment near the crowded Sunday Market of Srinagar at around 2:10 pm.

“The grenade exploded within the crowd, injuring 12 civilians, one among them a lady who sustained serious injuries,” Srinagar Police tweeted. “Police took cognisance of this act of terror and is committed to ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Case FIR No 66/2024 under Section 16 of the UAP Act, 109,  115 (2) of the BNS and 3/4 of the Explosives Substances Act has been registered at Police Station Kothi Bagh and investigation has been started.”

Meanwhile, the health officials said that all the injured civilians who were rushed to SMHS Hospital for treatment were stable.

The injured were identified by health officials as Faizal Ahmad, 16, son of Fayaz Ahmad Beigh form Khanyar; Misba, 17, daughter of Muhammad Amin Tantry of Nowgam; Azaan Kaloo, 17, son of Javaid Ahmad Kaloo of Noorbagh; Zahid, 19, son of Gulzar Ahmad Wani from Checkpora Kalan, Nowgam; Faizan Mushtaq, 20, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi from Pampore;  Altaf Ahmad Seer, 21, son of Abdul Rashid from Amshipora, Shopian; Umar Farooq, son of Farooq Ahmad Bhat of Pattan; Sumaiya Jan, 45, wife of Zubair Ahmad Lone from Naidkadal Sumbal; Habibullah Rather, 50, son of Abdul Jabbar from Kaloosa, Bandipora and Ghulam Muhammad Sofi, 55, son of Ghulam Ahmad from Chattabal.

The SMHS Hospital authorities told Greater Kashmir that all the injured civilians were kept under observation in the hospital.

“The civilians have sustained injuries in different body parts while one has a head injury and might undergo surgery. But all the patients are stable,” Medical Superintendent SMHS Hospital Dr Tasneem Showkat told Greater Kashmir.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi said they were investigating all the angles of the grenade attack that was lobbed near TRC.

“Generally we keep some deployment near TRC but we are still investigating if the attack was aimed at the same party. We are collecting all the evidence and investigations are going on considering all the aspects,” the IGP Kashmir said.

The grenade attack at TRC comes a day after a Lashkar-e-Toiba LeT commander was killed and four security personnel were injured in an encounter in the Khanyar locality of Srinagar.

“The Khanyar operation was very significant. That was the desperation of the terrorists to get active in Srinagar,” the IGP Kashmir said.

He also visited the injured civilians of the grenade attack and assured them that strict action would be taken against the “perpetrators of this crime”.

The IGP during his visit to SMHS Hospital expressed concern about the well being of the injured civilians.

Minister of Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Sakina Masood (Itoo) also visited the SMHS Hospital on Sunday evening to inquire about the civilians injured in the grenade attack.

The minister directed the doctors to provide all healthcare facilities to the injured civilians to ensure their speedy recovery.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat also visited SMHS Hospital to see the injured and enquired about their health conditions.

The DC asked the hospital authorities to provide all medical facilities to the victims.

Later, the DC Srinagar distributed Rs 25,000 to each civilian injured in the grenade attack.